Tanzania Imposes Curfew in Dar es Salaam Amid Unrest After General Election

Strategic Insights -

Tensions in Tanzania escalated further on Thursday as police fired gunshots and teargas in the city of Dar es Salaam to disperse protesters who returned to the streets a day after violent demonstrations marred the country's general election. The police action came as authorities imposed a curfew in the city, which has a population of over seven million people, and internet access remained disrupted across the country. Protests broke out in Dar es Salaam and several other cities during the presidential and parliamentary vote on Wednesday, with demonstrators setting fire to vehicles and a local government office, reportedly over the exclusion of the president's main challengers from the presidential race.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Tanzanian police fired gunshots and teargas on Thursday to disperse dozens of protesters in Dar es Salaam, a city of over seven million people.
  • The government has imposed an overnight curfew in Dar es Salaam and internet access remains disrupted across the country.
  • Protesters are angered over the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's two biggest challengers from the presidential race and increasing repression of government critics.
  • Reports indicate that upwards of 30 people may have been killed in Wednesday's violence.
  • Global internet monitor NetBlocks described the interruption as a "nationwide digital blackout".
  • The government has remained silent, and the heavily controlled local media made no mention of the unrest or provided any update on the election.
  • Civil servants and students were told to stay home on Thursday, with government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa announcing that all civil servants should work from home except for those whose duties require them to be present at their workplaces.
  • Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, was disqualified from the election in April after it refused to sign a code of conduct, with its leader, Tundu Lissu, being charged with treason.

Tanzanian authorities imposed a curfew in Dar es Salaam following protest unrest after the general election on Wednesday. Police fired teargas to disperse protesters, and reports of at least 30 deaths have emerged.

Statistics:

  • The city of Dar es Salaam has a population of over seven million people.
  • Reports indicate that upwards of 30 people may have been killed in Wednesday's violence.
  • Internet access remains disrupted across the country, with global internet monitor NetBlocks describing the interruption as a "nationwide digital blackout".
  • Civil servants were instructed to stay home on Thursday, with work from home arrangements for most employees.

Sources:

  • Reuters
  • NetBlocks
  • AFP
  • AllAfrica Global Media
  • Radio France Internationale
  • Instagram account of government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa